Koelle Bellies

Time goes by...

2010-09-07T16:51:00.000-07:00

Not slowly, but swiftly!! We've started in on school, which I have taken on the joy of homeschooling again! I am so much happier doing it this way, and we have so much more time for the fun things in life! I feel like this is how life is supposed to be. Yeah, I don't get a whole ton of quiet moments, but I do get enough, and it's all good! This weekend we're heading out to a homeschool campout with a lot of fun people! We'll be having some fun classes, buliding rockets, and learning how to tie knots, and all sorts of fun things! I'm so excited! Neil has started back to school too, so he's getting back into his schedule, but doing well. He's still working on cars too. The lord always blesses us just when we really need it with another car for him to fix! So many people are the answers to ou prayers by them coming to him! Sorry their car is broken, but thankful they are choosing him! I've learned a lot about faith these past years, but for some reason it has really hit me this past year how wonderful that principal is! We've had to reli A LOT on faith, and somehow, the Lord is always there to catch us just before we fall! I feel his knowledge of me and my family so much. I know he knows whats going on with us and knows just when we need the extra boost to help us through. I'm so grateful that I have been belssed with that knowledge. It's something that I might never have truly know if we hadn't had to struggle so much financially. So I hate my trials, but I am grateful for what I have been taught thru them! I don't know how that turned into something so long, maybe it's because I have written it in my journal lately and I just need to get it down.

I AM 30!

2010-02-25T15:31:00.000-08:00

I can't belive it, one year older already! Time sure does fly by that's for sure! Sometimes I wish it would go even faster, just to get us out of school and into an actual career. This month has felt so crazy! I had something going on every weekend and it has just flown by! Most memorable moments...
1. Mallory turned 8! She was baptized on Saturday Feb. 20th. It was great! We were the only one in our ward with a baptizm, so it was her own private, special day. Tha was really nice. It was a really rainy day too, and of course we were running late! But we got there, and everything worked out just fine! She said she really felt the spirit when Neil gave her the gift of the Holy Ghost, and she felt like she was going to cry. How sweet! She said it was the best day of her life!
2. Since she turned 8 Mallory was allowed to have a slumber party! Only 2 of the girls were able to spend the night, but that was fine with me! She had 3 girls over for a pajama making party and a movie. They had a lot of fun and it was one more milestone that we crossed!
3. Well obviously I hit 30! It's okay, no melt down or anything! It was actually a really good day! Neil surprised me with a gift the night before, a jacket. He said he was sick of me having to wear his ugly one all the time. That was thoughtful. Then on my birthday as I was getting ready to go, I noticed another package at the end of my bed.... I was so surprised! 2 presents! It was a bottle of perfume. One that I really liked and have wanted for while too! DNKY's "Fresh Apple Blossom." I was really excied about taht! I didn't even tell him to get me it! Then... I got into the car to head to my acupuncture appointent and there was another gift on the steering wheel! It was Lady Antebella's CD. Gotta love 3 gifts in one birthday! I haven't had so much in such a long time! It was so exciting and made me feel so special too! I also got a good hair straightner (which is what I told him to get me), so I figured tht is what I was getting, he let me open that one a week ago since I really wanted it! Do I have a great guy or what? Yeah, I do!

So that's my month. It feels like it's been non-stop, but I suppose it's all been good!

So 3 months is a long time

2010-01-25T08:49:00.000-08:00

I guess it's now been about 3 1/2 months since the last time I posted. So update on what's going on with the family.....
Tate is almost 7 months, and he's still so much fun. Travis is 3 now. He is pretty dang funny too! He loves talking to Tate and telling him how cute he is. He's just funny to listen to. Garrett hates school. That makes life so much fun! Mallory loves school but hates homework, thats fun too! Other than that the kids are fun and happy. We had a great Christmas and the kids are really looking forward to Valentines's Day! Neil just started bak at school last week. We're hoping for a less crazy scedule. We'll see what happens though. I'm at home still, I've lost 47 lbs. since having Tate. I'm pretty dang happy about that! I am back at my prepregnancy weight, but I'm still trying for more. I have started doing yoga for my back and rib problems, and I'm finding that I really like some of the different styles. I guess thats about it. Nothing too exciting we're just pluggin' along as usual.

Tate is 3 months old!

2009-09-27T21:50:00.000-07:00

Wow! How time flies! I can't believe this little guy is already 3 month old! How does it go by so quickly? He is so much fun! he smiles and giggles, he loves being talked to. He will just smile so handsomely if you are even talking near him! He is a great baby and is going to be another fun personality in our family! These pictures were just taken today. He looks so cute in browns and blues with his rooster like red hair! he's a goofy looking thing but we think he's soo cute anyway!

Koelle Car Classes

2009-09-07T11:40:00.001-07:00

Great for the drivers, or soon to be drivers of the family! Classes start Sept. 19, 10AM
Call Neil to reserve your place today!

Summer Showers

2009-08-27T12:09:00.001-07:00

First there was this...

And then there was this!

Who needs a hose anyway?

Need Recipes!!!!

2009-08-10T16:51:00.001-07:00

OKay all of you out there, I need help desperatley!!! I dn't know what has happened to me, I think having kids is sucking the brain cells out of me, but I seriously cannot think of good meals anymore! I try to figure out what to make for dinner and my mind is a blank! All I can see is chicken... but chicken what? Please send me your favorite recipes!! Quick and healthy is best, but anything will do. Just help me!!!! You can email them to me, or leave them in a comment, either one is fine. Thanks ahead of time for helping me salvage some sanity!

Picture Site

2009-08-07T13:13:00.000-07:00

Since it takes so long to upload my pictures to my blog, I'm sharing my pictures through a shutterfly website. Our family one is koellefamily.shutterfly.com, I'm working on it so it only has a few pictures so far, but if you want to see more pictures of Tate I started a baby one for him first, which I'll probably delete now with the fam one, but that site is babyjustintate.shutterfly.com. I think I can use these sites just like a blog so if I can actually figure out how to do that I'll probably start using just that site instead of both. Of course that all depends if I actually put the time into it, which who knows if I will! If you visit the site leave a comment with your email so that I can post it to my friends and family list please. I will erase it from the comments when have put it in my list. Thanks!

Justin Tate Koelle

2009-07-09T14:23:00.000-07:00

And he will be known as "Tate". We had 2 names, Justin Heath and Ryan Tate/Tate ryan that we couldn't decide between so to make life easier we decided just to combine the 2 so he had a name other than "boy" and then we would decide later which to actually call him. Neil came in with Travis the next morning and said "Travis what's the baby's name?" and Travis said, "Tate." It was very cute, and so it was decided, although I was already planning on telling Neil that I wanted Tate too, so it all worked out well.
He was born on July 6th at 6:55PM. Almost 7 hours after getting to the hospital. Since I was 8 days overdue and already 4 cm dilated the doctor made an appointment for me to go to the hospital and he would just break my water. He did that at 12:30PM, so I guess it could have been longer than the 5 hours of actual laboring I did. It sure was boring though! It was a pretty great experience in the end though because my doctor was in surgery when the baby was coming and so he called in his back up and they sent down a midwife that works there. She was so great, I will go back for her next time! The baby started coming so fast though when it finally started happening I was so scared. I all of a sudden had a contraction and he was coming, not just oh, it's going to be soon, it was there is a freight train coming out of me and there is no stopping it! My mom ran for the nurses and I just looked at Neil and was ready to tell him to get over there and catch the baby. The nurses came in and said hold it back the midwife should be here any second. I had 3 more contractions before she got there and they were all agonizing because I was literally holding him back! She finally got there, threw on an apron over her clothes and some gloves, still wearing her flip flops and then 10 min. later out came the boy! I actually delivered him lying on my side, and she worked with me so there was no tearing or anything. It was great! You know extremely painful, because we worked him out a little bit more gradual instead of the 3 big pushes and it's out, but all in all it was a wonderful experience and Ramona (the midwife) was so amazing, she made me feel so comfortable and was so supportive. I just can't say how great it was!
Okay so I could describe more, but for the sake of writing a novel I'll finish .. he was 8lbs. 2oz. and 21 inches long. He came out all wrapped up in the cord and was surprisingly blue, but he got his color quick and received an APGAR score of 9 both times (not that it's that big of a deal). He kind of looks like he has strawberry blonde hair right now, but we figure it will all fall out and come in blonde too.

Blowout!

2009-06-25T12:41:00.000-07:00

Crazy thing happened to me on Tuesday... I was travelling along Sossoman to go to my Chiropractor's appointment (which I had just made that day because I couldn't take the pains anymore!) and about a mile and half from there I hear a big BANG! I immediately pull the suburban over because I knew it was the car tire. Yes indeed. There in the back on the passenger side is my nice blown out tire that is only 2 months old! Pretty scary, although it happened so fast all I did was react, and I'm very glad it wasn't one of my front tires, or that it didn't happen earlier in the day when I was on Ironwood or the freeway with Travis in the car too. It just so happens though that it was the one day Neil was not around to help me. His company had sent him to Yucca to set up a weather station, so he was 5 hours away. So being a full blown 39 weeks pregnant it ended up being a really fun day/night. I just wish the fear or suddeness of it would have sent me into labor, but no such luck! It only took about 3 hours to finally get my car back to my parents house and this was after the first spare tire didn't work that Buck put on, and then I finally called Neil's dad, Randy to help me (he's very mechanical too). It was all just crazy and long and hot! This is the completely condenesed version of the story too, the whole thing was a complete nightmare to take care of. I am very grateful for the circumstances under which it happened though. It could have been so much worse and I was so lucky that the kids were all at places they were taken care of.

Sycamore Creek

2009-05-28T18:25:00.000-07:00

We finally had another family outing this memorial day weekend. We decided to head on out to Sycamore Creek to just play for a few hours. Neil and I had great hopes of being out on the road by 8AM, but of course we slept in and didn't leave until about 10:30AM. It was a fun journey out there, the first road down Ellsworth we were stopped short by a road block. All roads leading the tthe lake had been shut down becasue of an accident. Neil is getting mad at this point... it's a detour now. So we head out to Power because the road worker said it should be open... nope, onto the freeway that doesn't apparently have exits at Gilbert or Satpely, not until Country Club are we able to exit. Fun, family fun trip! Neil is fuming, he wants to turn around and go home. I sweetly remind him of the conference talk from last session about how we need to keep a sense of humor and laugh when we feel like doing otherwise. I am a very good wife. So finally we hit the real road out there, Bush Highway is also closed of course, but luckily we are able to find a way there anyway. The bumpy road was not so fun for a girl in her 37th week of pregnancy, but we got down to the very small creek finally! Yea!!

The kids played. We caught 5 half formed tadpoles that Neil nicely let them bring home. Neil and the kids built a little waterway from the creek to another patch of water. Mommy deciced to sit down in the creek to cool off a little and had to wait for Daddy to help her up, which he took his time to do of course! I must have looked like a black beached whale just sitting there all by myself wating for help getting up. I could have gotten up myself of course, but the creek bed was rocky and it would hurt my knees, so I just waited. So after a long road there, it was worht it. We really did have fun despite the setbacks and we were all really glad we went. I took some cute pictures of the kids with Neil's phone because I didn't bring the actual camera, but we're having trouble downloading them. They were all so excited about their tad poles. trav couldn't stop grinning when I caught his, of course he let it go in the waterway they were building (twice), but then Neil caught him a really big one and we were able to bring it home! So in our fish tank they sit, smelling up my kitchen with the lovely creek water we thought would keep them alive longest. I'm getting rid of them tonight! They will find a nice home in a little canal somewhere out here in QC. So, family fun trips are worth it, despite the setbacks along the way. We're thinking of heading to Roosevelt next weekend... we'll see!

Birthday's Past

2009-03-02T14:21:00.000-08:00

We've had a few birthdays in the family these past few months and I haven't done much about it.

Travis turned 2 on January 14th. I'm so glad little kids don't realize whats going on because I had just sprained my ankle at the time and I wasn't moving much even with the crutches. My mom and dad did bring him over a cake and we sang to him. Sadly I still haven't bought him a present. Good thing he doesn't care!

Mally turned 7 on Feb. 18th. It was a Wednesday, so early release and no time to do much before the after school kids got to the house. So I took her out the Monday before on Pres. Day. We decided we are only having birthday parties every other year, so this year I took Mal to the mall and we got her ears pierced. it was really exciting for us! I had told her a couple of years ago that it was up to her to tell me when she was ready to do it and she told me thats what she wanted for her present this year! I remember getting my ears pierced when I was 5 and thats why I don't pirece my baby's ears. it was just a fun experience and I want my girls to be able to have that memory too. She did an awesome job and just flinched on the first ear, but the 2nd was so easy and she did great! As part of her present she got to pick out a few more pairs to have when the first came out. It was pretty exciting! Then on Saturday I let her have the neighbors come over for cake and ice cream. Overall i don't think she even missed having an actual party.

Then there's me... I turned 29 on Feb. 24th. We haven't really done anything yet. The weekends are so crazy around here we haven't gotten to it, but Neil did get me some perfume for my birthday. Eventually we'll go out too I think...

The BEST place for the kids...

2009-03-02T14:11:00.000-08:00

Notice the progression....

The best part was that the dog was on the outside the whole time and people were driving by and I could hear them laughing as they went by.

A tag from awhile ago.

2009-03-02T13:51:00.000-08:00

Well as most of you have figured out by now, I rarely check or update my blog, which means I rarely check other people's blogs too. I have apparently been tagged by Leslie to list 7 things about myself that people might not know. So sorry Leslie it has taken me so long to check your blog, but I'm gonna do this one just for you!

1. I'm VERY opinionated. I keep it hidden pretty well if I don't know people well,but that doesn't mean I don't have fighting words when they say something I don't agree with. People who do know me well... you already know this because we've probably had discussions and maybe have even disagreed!

2. I'm scared to garden! I know very weird. I really want to, but I'm afraid I will somehow mess it up and then have wasted money on it. Probably has something to do with being broke.

3. I love big trucks/ suv's with meat on their tires, and absolutely despise mimivans. I think they are a disgrace to mankind! I don't care that they have better gas mileage, they still look horrendous! No offense!

4. I can't decorate my house. I'm afraid I'll do something and then totally hate it. Stupid because of course I have hardly anything done or up in my house and I absolutely hate that!

5. I love the light! If there are blinds closed during the day it drives me crazy and I feel like I'm in a cave. I keep my house lit up at night too until bedtime because I love light and don't like dreary, dark corners.

6. I want to be a camping family. We don't have much time available to do things like that with Neil's school schedule, but I am absolutely determined that this be the year we start to be a more adventurous family.

7. I love being outside by myself. It doesn't matter if it's day or night just as long as the weather is nice, although I don't mind the rain. It just gives me a chance to breathe and get a grip, especially after a tough day. Just being out there alone is so revitalizing.

Okay, I get to tag people now...
Jenny
Kasey
Brenda
Maelynn
Jill

I won't be offended if you don't do it. I probably won't even look for about a month!

koelle expansion

2009-01-26T16:29:00.001-08:00

I guess it's time to publish the news... number 4 is on it's way and will make an appearance around the end of June. I'm about 18 weeks along right now, and no we don't know what we are having, and no we're not finding out. It's our own Koelle tradition and we LOVE it! I'm secretly (or not so much) hoping for a girl. everyone in our ward has just had boys and we tend to run in cycles so I'm hoping this means I will get a girl!

So thats my big news, I'm super busy lately and between the pregnancy, watching kids, homeschooling , and most recently my sprained ankle, blogging just comes last on the list as usual. I hope everyone is well and had a great Christmas!

More of what we've been up to...

2008-11-10T16:02:00.001-08:00

Last Saturday we participated in the MS Walk down at the Phoenix Zoo. A lady in our ward has MS and so we decided to go do the walk with them. We had a lot of fun. It was a really good experience, one we hope to make a family tradition yearly. For some reason I didn't get very many pictures of Garrett. He was there though, I promise.

The Williams Gilbert phoenix Airport, or something like that! It was an open house down at the Gateway airport. It was nice and hot, we tried to take some family pictures but the sun was so bright they didn't exactly catch us looking our best! It was a lot of fun for the kids, I think they enjoyed the huge bouncy slide the most though, Neil had travis and the camera at the time, taking pictures of the airplanes taking off.

What We've Been Up To.

2008-11-10T15:34:00.001-08:00

src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tvsbXYRWRpQ/SRjHyozVnDI/AAAAAAAAAl0/2XSKQpxGBCw/s400/P9120039.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267179436969925682" />Mud, Mud, Mud, and more MUD!!! We've been swimming in it lately! Sorry, for some reason this picture is posting as a link. Who knows why!
A project on rockets for homeschool. Garrett really enjoyed making his out of a water bottle.
A Daddy horse.
The baby who lived in a shoe box.
Marie Antoinette and King Louie
Visiting Aite in our Halloween costumes.
Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. I made the costumes, aren't they great!!
And Robin Hood, he's so handsome!
So there's a few, I'm going to upload some more, they just take forever! Anyone have a quick way to upload pictures on the blog?

My Opinion

2008-10-07T13:58:00.000-07:00

I can't upload the link to this but go visit, get resources.
YesforMarriage.com

I could go on about this subject forever. not just supporting prop 102, but also the election in general. Many people have their facts wrong! many people are taking what they see on the news for fact. This is wrong and DANGEROUS! The media is biased. They are no longer reporting fact, but are following and supporting in the media their own opinions. Make sure you are educating yourselves about the choices. Obama is not going to take our country in the direction we all want and need it to go. Taxes will be raised, our rights infringed upon, government spending raised. He will also support sex education beginning in KINDREGARTEN!! Oh and don't worry, it will be quite descriptive! Your kids will know everything they need to know from age 5 about how to prevent a pregnancy. Is this really what you want? Go research! I admit that John McCain was not my first choice for president, but if deciding between the 2 who has more experience? Who has stood up for the rights of all people? Who will keep our nation safe? Who will support our family values? Obama, doesn't have the experience, but he does has some nice connections to known terrorists, who have actually been mentors to him. Read some of his books, does he really sound like a patriot? Or is he just power hungry and ready to push forward HIS own BELIEFS and the BELIEFS of his AFFILIATES. Do you want to chance it on him. If we do, WE WILL REGRET IT!!!

2 Weeks Down

2008-09-22T20:29:00.000-07:00

You know, it seems like I just posted on this thing not too long ago, but apparently it has already been almost a month. Life is just crazy around here. i used to have time to read. I would usually go through 2-3 books a week, and I think I've read 1, and a few chapters this whole month!

What have I been doing you ask? Homeschooling these kiddos takes a lot of time! Not, in a bad way though. It's really been great these past few weeks doing this. The kids seem happy, Garrett has gone to a b-day party every Saturday for the past month, so he's been busy. Mally actually likes doing math, and reading is really coming along. I'm still accumulating the things/books that I need, so we're not quite where I'm wanting to be, but it all takes money. This is great for our family though! I can't wait to really get good at it! I have to re-educate myself on everything now, and try to get away from the book work and get more into the making learning fun and exploring their curiosity and so learning and retaining. I've been trying to read a great book that is mapping it out, but once again, I'm just swamped. it's not just homeschooling either. I'm watching kids almost every day of the week now, collecting cans, and making salsa to try to earn some money.

Neil is full blown back at school and this year is TOUGH! Try having teachers from different countries with super heavy accents and try learning from them. He's so busy trying to figure out what the heck they are saying he's not learning anything! And to top it off those teachers are his physics and Calc.2 teachers. Doesn't that just sound great? So he's studying most hours that he isn't working or in class.

Luckily we're all doing great despite the tough times. The kids are really fun, and I'm really enjoying having them at home. It's hard, I don't ever have time to go grocery shopping, or just be by myself, but I really feel like this is what we are supposed to be doing. I'm so grateful that I have a husband who is fully supportive of this too, it would be so much harder if he wasn't. But like always, Neil is just awesome, he's always been supportive of the things that I really feel strongly about. Well I hope everyone else is doing great. I'm sure no one ever even checks my blog anymore, but if you happen to, please say hi! It's been so long, and I really don't talk to many adults so it's always great to hear from old friends. Some day I'll get around to posting some pictures, I have some really great ones of a very muddy day, and a boy who could fit in a shoe box! Till then...

Playtime for the Boys!

2008-09-03T19:39:00.000-07:00

Neil took Garrett out for a guys day to one of his most favorite places... The Indoor Rock Gym! Garrett had a blast and can't wait to go back again. It sounds like he's in line to be a monkey just like his daddy. Reaching heights others only dream about! I think we need to own our own one of these days! Next time the girls are coming too. I'm sure we'll be put to shame, but at lease we'll do it laughing!

I Know I've Been Bad!

2008-08-26T17:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, so once again it's been awhile since I've posted anything. It's been a bit crazy and I honestly just forget about this thing sometimes! Let's see, well school has been going okay so far, although I'm actually looking into homeschooling the kids soon. I know everyone will think I'm crazy, but I've done a lot of research inot it, I've visited a LDS group meeting, I've checked out curricula, and to be honest, it's something that just keeps popping into my head. I figure if it isn't going away then it might be something that I really need to be doing.

Neil started school yesterday and already I can feel the grind. It's single Mom time! Tuesdays and Thursdays are definitely without Daddy and the other days may be soon too if he gets a night job. It's really tough i must say, but man the sooner it's done the better off everything will be right? I just have to continually remind myself of that when I'm ready to go berserk!

Softball Season is starting up again soon and I'm really excited about that. i love playing the sports, it makes me feel a little bit like the old Tammie. You know, the girl before being a wife and mother, the one who was actually really good at sports. That seems to have gone away a bit unfortunately!. Not that I don't like the other stuff but sometimes I wonder what happened to the rest of me. So it brings a balance back to my life that I feel I've been missing. I get to play volleyball at our church every Wednesday and Friday too and oh how I absolutely love that! I've only missed once since we've started and it takes a lot to make me miss. I'll have to miss more often with softball starting though since it's on the same nights. Thats okay though. It's a good reason.

Well i guess thats it for an update. Not much changes. Maybe someday I'll et around to posting some more pictures. My camera is sucking my batteries dry for some reason so everytime I go to use it, it dies on me. Stinks but whatcha gonna do?

Just so you know...

2008-07-30T09:44:00.001-07:00

I got this info off of my sister in laws (Kristen Hon) Blog. Very good information to have! Her daughter has some sensory, developmental issues and they have been able to link some of the characteristics back to the day they had her immunizations. I know many of you probably think it's crazy not to have your child immunized, but I'm a firm believer in not doing it, especially when they are babies. I know of quite a few people who have children that have had reactions to them. The doctors don't give you all the information. You might think they always have your best interest at heart, but honestly do you really think it's for you or the money? Well those might be fighting words. So here's some info for those of you who don't research these things and just follow the doctor's instructions. Also visit kristen's blog, she has some other great information and a speech that you should listen to. She has really done her homework on the vaccines. I'm not trying to cause a fight on here either. It's just information that really is useful. Most people don't think to even look at both sides, the doc says and you do. Read on, you'll find out things that may surprise you!

Medical professionals that ensure parents that mercury has been removed from all vaccines are lying. They might tell you that only trace amounts of mercury have been found in a few vaccines. Did you know that those small trace amounts are too toxic for drinking water??

Here is a website to go & see what vaccines still have thimerosal (mercury) http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimerosal.htm#t3

Here is an alternate vaccine schedule... This recommendation was written by Donald Miller, MD who is cardiac surgeon and Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle and one of the members of the Doctors for disasters preparedness. Here is the link to the article that he wrote I hope everyone will read. It is well worth your time. http://www.generationrescue.org/pdf/user_friendly.pdf

1. No vaccinations until a child is 2 years old

2. No vaccines that contain thimersol(mercury)

3.No live virus vaccines (except for small pox if it should reoccur)

4. These vaccines, to be given one at a time, every 6 months beginning at age 2

*Pertussis

*Diphtheria

*Tetanus

*Polio

***********************************************************************************

Did you Know....

* we give the same amount of a vaccine to a newborn that we would give to a full size adult. One size fits all is ridiculous. Why do we have to give different amounts of medicine for different ages but when it comes to vaccines it doesn't matter??????

*The Flu vaccines still have a full dose of mercury in it. I find it interesting that Doctors encourage us to get the flu vaccine while we are pregnant but discourage us to eat fish while pregnant to prevent us getting any mercury. Does that make sense???

* Children who delay vaccinations by 2 months cut their risk of asthma by ½ according to (Kozyrskyj, University of Manitoba)

* What are in the vaccines???(Mercury, Aluminum, viruses, bacteria, formaldehyde, MSG, HCL, Antibiotics, Human, Cow, Chicken, Guinea Pig, Monkey tissue/serum, Yeast, and Egg)

* The current schedule requires 36 vaccines by the time a child is 6 and the majority are given to the children by the age of 15 months compared to 1983 when children received 10 vaccines in the same time period.

*7 Vaccines injected into a 13lb two month old infant is equivalent to 70 doses in a 130 lb adult.

*50 years ago when immunization schedule contained only 4 vaccines, autism was virtually unknown

* Type 1 diabetes went from 1 in 7,100 children in the 1950's to now 1 in 480* The CDC has not done any long term studies to see if vaccine schedule is safe

* US government has paid out more then $11.5 billion in vaccine injury compensation

Here are some tips I found on taca.orgs website. (talk about curing autism)
1. Do not vaccinate newborns. When you are ready to vaccinate – check into a slower vaccination schedule that may work for your family, address your concerns, and achieve public health policy slowly.

2. Avoid re-immunization with a vaccine after a previous bad reaction.

3. NEVER vaccinate ill children or children recovering from an infection.

4. Space vaccines - do not give multiple vaccines in 1 day.(THAT INCLUDES single vaccine doses that have multiple viruses! Split them up!)

5. Use single-dose vials from which to draw up the vaccines as opposed to multiple-dose vials which provide less uniform dosage.

6. Use inactivated polio. (the shot, not the drops)

7. Give RDA (Recommended Daily Allowances) of Vitamin C before and after vaccines

8. Give a natural form of Vitamin A ( cod liver oil ) to keep RDA's at level at all times for the age.

9. Separate the MMR into 3 doses: start with measles at 12-15 months, then mumps at 18-21 months, rubella at 24-27 months.

10. Do not give live virus vaccines to immunodeficient children.

11. Do not give vaccines if allergic to any of these components:i. Yeast - Hep B ii. Eggs - MMR iii. Neonycian - MMR or Varicella

12. Hold off on the Varicella until 10-12 years and if the child is shown not immunity to Chicken pox.

13. Check vaccine titers before giving boosters (Most people are immune after one dose. We continue to get multiple doses that MAY NOT BE NEEDED. Have them check antibody levels via titres blood test.)

RECOMMENDED READING:

These recommendations are based on great books for all parents/grandparents:

• What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinationsby Stephanie Cave, MD (paperback, September 2001)

• The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child (Sears Parenting Library), by Robert Sears, (paperback, 2007)

• Evidence of Harm by David Kirby

• Additional reading on this important topic can be located at the Autism Research Institute: www.autism.com/ari.
* Another great web site with the latest research papers can be found at http://www.generationrescue.org/

*If you read through this whole thing then I applaud you. If you were ever unsure of vaccinations then I hope this cleared the air. Thanks for listening!!

Another game, But I would love to see the comments!

2008-07-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

Play along with me!! Here is how:
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember.
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory of you. It's actually pretty funny to the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

San Diego Trip

2008-07-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

Our family vacation, what can I say... sometimes it was fun! Looking back on it now I think I would skip the whole sea world part and just hang out at the beach. Sea World was fun and the kids really liked the shows, but we had most of our melt downs there, and i prefer not to play the part of crazed parents! The beach on the other hand was almost melt down free. Mallory hardly came out of the ocean the whole time we were there. She loved it, she hung out in the waves even when everyone else was taking a break. Garrett and Travis spent most of their time playing in the sand. Garrett and I started one big sand castle, unfortunately it became a casualty of the sea. Apparently we built it too low and the tide came in quick! He had fun searching for sea shells and Travis really liked chasing the sea gulls. I think if he could talk he would say his favorite part was chasing the birds wherever we went! So next time... California beaches here we come! My parents and sisters came a long too, we're glad they could join us, although it probably wasn't as relaxing as they were hoping for. Mallory really had fun with them at the beach though, jumping through the waves with them.

mallory's Dance Recital

2008-05-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

The 2nd picture is from Mallory's kindergarten program. None of my pictures turned out with her on stage the kids eyes always looked really spooky! The other pictures are from her dance recital in May. It was the best recital I've been to by Joanne Judd. the girls all looked really cute and the dances were cute too! Of course Mallory was the cutest one there I have to say! It was a fun Disney theme and I really enjoyed it!

My Springtime Project

2008-05-30T17:06:00.001-07:00

This is our Castlegate Sports Club. I organized this neighborhood tball for all of us who can't actually afford the expense to play with the city. it went really good and we had 2 teams with 24 kids playing. We'll be doing soccer in the fall and I think there might be a little more of a price for that one. It was a good amount of work, but i'm glad the kids were able to play. Mallory is upset because it was her turn to catch the ball when they went to take a picture. Good thing I wasn't paying a professional for this look!

Where's the Baby?

2008-05-30T17:02:00.001-07:00

With the food of course!! This is where I found Travis after searching for awhile. Apparently mallory found a bag of Fritos that Neil had brought home and hid them in her room where soon to come her baby brother wandered in with his nose for food and settled in to eat. He was really very comfortable too, wishing to thank his sister for not only supplying the yummy snack but for also supplying the cushioned seat of dirty clothes.

Garrett's Rock, Meet Mally's Eye

2008-05-30T16:57:00.001-07:00

So this is what happens when a little boy with a very good arm gets a rock and throws it uphill as his sister looks back at him. It was quite a traumatizing experience but all I can say is thank goodness it hit her eye brow and not her eye! The first picture is from right after the incident, the next 2 are from a week later. Notice the difference in the facial expressions! Mallory had a very pretty shade of purple on her eye for a few days, it would have looked great if we had dressed up the other to match!

Best Twist Ever!

2008-05-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

Who is in to the FOX tv show "Bones"? Neil and I watched last nights episode, which I'm pretty sure was the season finale, and WOW! That show is the winner for the best all time unexpected outcome! If you haven't watched Bones you need to at least start at the beginning of this season (3) and watch because it was so great! I am actually really sad and disappointed and I can't stop thinking about the horrible twist they threw at us! I wish I could figure out how to upload a picture but I can't so you'll just have to check it out on FOX. Seriously though. I have never seen a show that so totally threw me, it comes out of no where and just hits you right where it hurts! Watch it! You won't be disappointed, but start from the beginning of the season or it just won't be the same!

5 Embarrassing Moments...

2008-04-28T16:25:00.001-07:00

I saw this on Kasey's blog so I thought what the heck I'll tell a few.

1. At a recital of my sister's I went to the bathroom and came out with my dress tucked into the back of my tights. Luckily I didn't get out of the bathroom before another girl informed me of my predicament.I was probably about 8.

2. At the DMV when my mom and I were waiting to take my driving test. I was wearing some Birkenstock type sandals and we were sitting on a bench near the door. We noticed some gross brownish fluid on the floor and then realized I was flinging dirty sweat off my shoes with every flip of my foot while I sat waiting! Hopefully no one else noticed, but it was still mortifying! My copious amounts of sweat from my hands and feet have given me many embarrassing moments over the years!

3. I was playing one on one basketball with a guy friend in college, trying to be cool and sporty I went to make a layup and I tooted as I jumped! I hoped that he hadn't heard, but such is my luck he didn't even try to ignore it but chose instead to comment on it! Luckily he never told anyone else that I know of!

4. On a date with Neil, we went to the golf course to the driving range. I wasn't planning on playing any type of sport so I was not prepared for the occasion. On one of my shots my golf club went flying out of my sweaty hands onto the middle of the field. The other people there had to halt their practicing so Neil could go grab my club! This was pre-engagement days!

5. NOw this one may take the cake for all of my embarrassing moments ever. It is still talked of to this day by all those who witnessed this spectacular event! I was in a Christmas program at church and I was to be the lead package coming out on stage followed by a group of much younger kids. My mom and I decided I should be the best and biggest package. AS I was nearing the end of the stage I had to step over a leg of a screen that someone had so graciously left on the stage. Well, when you're the biggest package that package of course covers yours knees so that they cannot bend no matter what obstacle you might have to step over, so as of course would happen, I tried to step over the leg and instead tripped and fell on the stage causing a package pile up as all the other children following me fell on top of me! Of course I still couldn't bend my knees so I couldn't even move myself off of the stage, finally someone took pity on the poor child flailing her limbs trying to get up and nicely drug me off the stage!. Needless to say I was pretty upset at my mom for making me not only be in the stupid program, but for then making me be such a huge package! And yes for those people in 39th ward who were there to witness my debut that night, I still hear about it 20 years later when we happen to meet! maybe that is why I never felt the need to be on stage again!

Well there are some of mine, please feel free to post some of your moments! Jenny I especially want you to because you have the greatest and also can tell them in the most hilarious way ever! Juliette, you too! Plus you share the sweat gland problem with me so we can relate!

Goldfield Ghost Town

2008-03-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

We are trying to go on a family outing once a month and our first one was to Goldfield Ghost Town. It's free by the way, if anyone wants to go. The kids had fun, it was hot and dusty and we got ice cream. Who needs more? It ended nicely with me driving us home because Neil was making calls on his cell phone. I switched seats with him and to end a great day got pulled over by a very unsympathetic cop and of course because he didn't want anyone actually enjoying their "Good Fridays" he gave me a ticket for speeding. 10 years spotless driving record down the drain! Next time Neil stays in the dirvers seat! We did have fun though. This will be the first post of pictures since it takes forever to down load all the pictures I'll do some more another day!

The old fire truck we found out of sight behind the buildings.

Good thing we didn't bring the big stroller! I don't know if Neil would have appreciated having to pick that one up and carry it up and down the rutted hill!

OOOH! Look at the snake!

My twins!

The snake head is actually right there, it was like it actually wanted to say hi!

Loose Tooth

2008-03-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

Another childhood milestone is passing in our lives! Today while Mally was eating her sandwhich she told me her top tooth hurt when she bit down. So I checked it and sure enough her tooth is wiggly! We are all so excited! She got the biggest grin on her face and said, "Really?" then she ran and told Garrett who was so excited too, and then I let her call Daddy at school to tell him. This is so fun to see how bright her eyes got at the prospect of losing a tooth and having the tooth fairy visit! This picture I think well represents teeth because we took this at the zoo while Mally's teeth were full of oreo cookie! Soon those teeth will be replaced!

YEA!!!

2008-03-17T12:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, so one of the busiest things going on for me has been scouts. I've been in scouts for the past 3 years, 1 1/2 yrs. as the Webelos leader, and the other half as the cub committee chair. Now most people who haven't been in scouts may think that this is a cushie job. Let me tell you, it's not! Planning a big party every month is not easy and making sure all the leaders are doing what they are supposed to, not easy. And considering that for a committee it consisted of me the primary leader and our cub master and Neil who was also the webelos leader with me and the reason we were released was because he was gone at nights, so guess how much help he was as a committee member, so most of the organizing of everything fell to me. So a few weeks ago I finally confronted my bishopric member over the scouts and told him that I needed a committee about a year ago and he needed to get on the ball and start calling people for me. I've been a tad stressed with my calling for awhile now and with some of the leaders being flakes I just kind of snapped! So just before our blue and gold(after I had already done all the organizing) they finally called a committee for me! That was the last week of february. It all went well, and the bishop told me that someone had told him it was the best blue and gold he had been to. Thats always nice to hear after putting so much time and effort into something. But to be honest, I've been wanting to be released for quite awhile, having Neil gone at nights means I have to drag all my kids, and all the decorations, and food supplies in my truck to pack meeting every month and it is really hard! I can't keep a close enough eye on my kids while I'm setting up and making sure all the awards are set to go and everything is put together, all the while dealing with a fussy baby who needs to eat constantly to be happy. Stress, it was a disease I was living with! I have been slowly losing it every month a little bit more goes. So on Saturday I had a surprise visit from ourmy bishopric member over the cub scouts. He came to let me know that they were releasing me and appreciated all the hard work I put into cub scouts! Oh, the great relief to know that no longer do I have to have the planning meeting coming up next week, or send out a million emails to get responses back, or make sure we have the awards picked up and ready to go, or cart ll my children to pack meeting and be the crazed mom who can't control her children! And so much more! I've enjoyed parts of being in cub scouts and it really is a great program, but I am so THANKFUL that I have finally been released! So yea! It's a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders, and know maybe I can start to like some of the people I've worked with again who haven't followed through on things and made me frustrated! So here's to being released from a calling after 3 years of hard work and dedication despite the many frustrations along the way!

to blog or not to blog

2008-03-06T16:07:00.001-08:00

I'm in a mood lately where I really feel that spending my time blogging is just a huge waste of time. So that is why there have been no updates lately, I'm just tired of it. I'm super busy with organizing a sports club for kids in my neighborhood, managing my softball team, planning and organizing all of our wards cub scouts pack meetings, and more. I'm just tired and I don't want to do more, so I would say don't check back for awhile cause I have a feeling this might last awhile! Maybe then I'll get around to posting our zoo adventures and Mally's 6th birthday, oh and I also celebrated my 28th in February. It's been a busy, busy time and it appears it will be getting busier! See ya all!

Vroom Vroom!

2008-02-06T21:25:00.000-08:00

So here's some exciting news... Neil just got a Mechanical Engineering Internship with Harley Davidson!!! We are all so excited, he's working down on the GM Proving grounds and gets to be right in on the research and development, it's soooo cool!!! Anyway, Yea For Neil! Yea! For Us!!! This is such a leg up in his career, it's amazingly wonderful!! Yea!Yea!Yea!Yea! You've gotta admit, it's pretty dang sweet!!!

Numero Uno!!!

2008-02-06T21:19:00.001-08:00

Well my baby has turned one! Time sure does fly! And I'm not sure I want it to. WE had a good little party with him, and if you can't tell he loved his cake! He dug right in and didn't stop till I took it away. I kind of gave him a bigger piece than I should have, but he was okay with that! The boy can eat! We just had his 1 year check up and he weighs in at 16lbs. 11 oz! And he's a whoppin 28in. long! He's pint sized, but his appetite sure isn't! Well what can I say, I love my Travi!!

President!

2008-02-06T07:49:00.000-08:00

OKay I'm just going to vent my annoyance right now for all of us Arizonans! How could we let McCain win here? I know he's republican and from Arizona, but really. He's practically a democrat with the way he supports different views, he shouldn't even be a republican anymore! I don't know what I'm going to do if he wins, I will probably have to do a write in because I don't want my support to go to a man with his kind of morals! Anyway, I could write a lot more on the subject but for now I'll just let it stand. I'm just so disappointed!

Christmas Day!

2008-01-01T14:13:00.001-08:00

Christmas Eve tradition is getting new p.j.'s. The first gift under the tree.
This is what Mallory wanted the most!
Travis needed a little boost in the walking department. He loves it!
Garrett also really wanted rollerblades. He's really excited to try them out!
Got to start them early! Travis will be a home run hitter by the time he's 2!

Merry Christmas to All!!!

2007-12-25T20:44:00.001-08:00

I love having my kids wrap up presents! I'm not one to get annoyed because it doesn't look perfect, I think it adds to the enjoyment of Christmas to know that this little kid wrapped the present all by themselves! It's so much fun, and the result is the best! You never know what it will look like! I think thats better than all the bows and ribbons on a package!

travis couldn't do much wrapping, but who better to hold the paper down? You can't have it rolling back up, so just use some baby weight!

mallory was actually posing for this picture. She wanted to be taking pictures and I told her should could after pretendin to wrap up a present for me. Then she finished it up and I relinquished the camera. I have some interesting pictures now, one of just about every ornament on the tree, pictures of her own art work that is hanging on the wall, one picture of me she told me made me look fat (got to love the honesty!), and my favorite, the ones she took of herself! She's not quite mastered the sryt of it yet, but after 3 in succession there was definite improvement. I can tell you one thing though, my fat picture didn't look as bad as her own pictures!!

Every once in awhile you have a picture taken and you think, "Wow, I look really good in that!" This is one of them for me, not the best out of all of them, but the best overall of our family. I looked the best in one but Neil had the corkiest smile in it. I don't think I've ever seen so many teeth before! Anyway, so I'm actually happy with my self in this picture, I think I look pretty! Yea for me!

This is my favorite picture of the koelle family boys! Minus travis and Brody. Don't they all look cute! Doesn't Jordan have the prettiest, softest looking red hair? It should belong to a girl!! Tell him that for me Tera!! I love it!

I'm Blue... Are You?

2007-12-25T20:40:00.000-08:00

Other than the movie preference I think it's pretty good. I really prefer watching "White Christmas or The Night They Saved Christmas". "It's a Wonderful Life" was always too depressing for me, I like the happier ones!

You Should Have a Blue Christmas Tree

For you, the holidays represent a time of calm, understanding, and peace.
You avoid family fights, and you don't get too stressed out - even when things are crazy!

You like to make Christmas about making everyone's life a little bit better.
You don't get caught up in greed or commercialism. You're too sincere for that.

Your blue tree would look great with: Lots of silver tinsel

You should spend Christmas Eve watching: It's a Wonderful Life

What you should bake for Santa: Chocolate chip cookies

What Color Christmas Tree Should You Have?

Santa Visit

2007-12-24T11:07:00.001-08:00

A tradition for one family in our ward is for the dad to dress up as Santa Claus for the neighborhood. They allow anyone who wants to come see Santa to visit him at their house! It was a great idea! The kids were so excited, so was I, no standing in a huge line at the mall! And I get free pictures! They both told Santa they wanted a computer! What weirdos! I didn't get them that! Travis cried when I sat him on Santas lap, so we settled for a family picture with Santa instead with me holding Travis next to him! I can't blame the kids, a big man in a red suit, half of his face covered with fuzzy white stuff! Who wouldn't be afraid?

Remembering the good ol' days!

2007-12-24T10:58:00.000-08:00

The kids found their old snow suits from Wyoming! They were not deterred from wearing them even after finding that they were too short! Garrett wanted to go on a walk in his and mallory was actually wearing a dress under hers, along with the beanie that is way too small for her head! It was really hard to get them to take them off to go to church! Wouldn't that have been a sight! I promptly put them back in the box and hid it!

December in Pictures

2007-12-18T09:52:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of the pictures I've taken this month. Random I know, but if you can't tell, I don't like spending a lot of time on my blog so this is the easiest and fastest way to share what we've been up to.
These are my new stockings! I think they are so cute! Of course I made them myself so I could be a bit biased but I'm pretty proud of them! I even hand stitched our names on them! No small feat for me and my sweaty fingers!

I just think this is funny! Gma koelle gave travis a high chair for xmas early and of course garrett loved the box! I didn't even know what this one looked like until I was looking through the pics afterwards and zoomed in on it! I cracked up when I saw those little eyes peering back at me! This is why i had kids!

Tyler was on leave and had Neil find him a bronco to fix up. They are all really excited to get this baby working. Garrett had his eyes closed in every one of these pictures I took! it was a bright morning!

Mallory the angel princess. I'm really not sure what she was in this extended family nativity. She's wearing white and a crown. Since there were no female wisemen and she's not wearing wings, I'm just guessing she put on whatever appealed the most to her! She's so cute though!

I heard Travis playing in my closet (please ignore the mess!) and he was having fun so I got out the camera and as soon as he saw me the fun ended and the crying began! What a silly baby!

Who Wants to Play Ball?????

2007-11-24T10:40:00.000-08:00

Okay all you athletic people out there, I'm looking for some people who are interested in playing on my co-ed softball team in Queen Creek. The league starts on January 9th and we will be playing on either wednesday or Friday nights double headers starting at 6:30PM ending at 10:30PM. Only people who are willing to commit the time to it, it's $40 per person or $80 per couple, we prefer couples so that there are even numbers of girls and guys. we are trying to win some games this season, so only people who have actually played! We're not pro so if you're decent let me know. Email taimetoo@hotmail.com put softball in the subject line so I don't delete you. If you're not interested but have friends who might be let them know too, anyone is welcome!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-23T18:17:00.000-08:00

The kids love their great grandma Aite!

Funny!

2007-11-23T18:13:00.000-08:00

"inch by Inch Growing Sticks"

2007-11-23T18:06:00.000-08:00

These are each hand crafted original growing sticks. You can't find these in stores and they are really cute! my kids love to get measured on it! It's a great gift for parents and grandparents. They measure up to 6ft. 5in. No more pencil marks on the wall that you have to leave behind when you move! These will travel anywhere and keep those memories close at hand! $35 per stick if you would like to order one please let me know which one and email me at taimetoo@hotmail.com

Who needs to go out to have fun?

2007-11-17T19:12:00.000-08:00

This can be hours of free entertainment! Neil just wanted to get our pictures together, and we laughed so hard I had tears streaming down my face! Aren't we just the cutest couple ever?

And then to be fair since I published his most beautiful pictures (without his permission of course), he says I have to put some of me on here! Pretty, pretty, pretty!!! I could be Mr. Ed's girlfriend! Wonderful teeth!! Great for munching carrots!

And as Arnold would say, "It's not a tumor." I would look hot as a body builder huh! Sexy!!!

Ain't He Handsome!!!

2007-11-16T19:53:00.001-08:00

He's a regular ol' stud!

Or maybe an alien?

Jupiter or Mars?

Are tiny teeth a turn on?

And now I have twins!
You know something weird is going on when you hear your husband cracking up so hard in the other room that when he calls to you to come and see whats so funny you can hardly understand the words he is saying because it is all coming out in some sort of high pitched squeak! All I know is that he gave me one of the best laughs I've had in a long time! What a lucky girl I am and now I'll share the wealth!! My favorites are # 1 and 3! But its all pretty good! Have a great day!

Halloweeeeenn!

2007-11-05T14:27:00.000-08:00

Well here we go again! We were all cowboys and cowgirl this year! These were their scary halloween faces they told me! Garrett's was especially scary with the original red eye! Creepy! it was fun. The kids have been wearing their boots everywhere and Mally wears hers to school everyday! Its funny! The kids had fun and then came home to help pass out candy at our house. Mally's a great candy passer outer! Now we're slowly going through their candy each day. They only get it if they've had 3 carrots before! I know what kind of mom am I? Taking all the fun out of halloween by keeping tabs on the sugar intake! MEAN MOMMY!

many, many, many....

2007-10-18T18:58:00.001-07:00

Well here we go. It's been awhile so here's some pictures of what we've been up to. I know this will probably come out looking crazy, but I still haven't figured my computer out yet so I will be leaving it however it may appear! Don't my boys look handsome in cowboy hats? And that crazy picture of mallory is her dancing! We both had a pretty good laugh when we saw how it came out! Attack of the masssive spider web! Or is it Santa's beard? They both look so much alike! This is about all we've done for decorating this year, I have no idea where all my decorations have gone to! Oh well, at least we have plenty of spiders and webs! We also took a visit to Flagstaff to visit our friends the Hess's. It was fun during the day and at night, well imagine all 5 of us in a bedroom together and Travis knowing that I am in there too. I think all can figure out how great that was! We didn't get much sleep thats for sure! WE had so much fun at the park later on and the kids all had fun attacking Neil or "Mail" as malloy was calling him! And don't worry, I of course look bald with the sun shining right on my head! I always look so good in pictures! Garrett and Malloy toast each other while eating popcorn and watching a movie. "It's a great night Mate, cheers to this!" I know this is so out of order! And those other pictures are of Neil making paper airplanes and testing them out off of the roof up there. He had a project for one of his engineering classes and we all were able to participate. Garrett caught them when they came down. And last, isn't Travis just so cute in that little hat? I surely think so, I think he is the cutest baby around! Well, I hope this stops the harrassing calls, and mean emails from everyone. Gosh, like I don't have better things to do with my life than constantly update my blog! Give me a little peace for heaven's sake! Just kidding! No one pays that much attention to my blog! Sorry I've been a slacker!

Fat Neck!

2007-09-24T18:05:00.000-07:00

I just love family get togethers. You never know what interesting tidbits you might get; great compliments, innocent jabs (or are they?). Last night we went over to Neil's dad's house for our monthly Koelle get together. His grandma was there and having just got back from spending time out of state with her daughter, it was the first time we've seen her for a couple of months. Now to really understand all that will be said, you must know that something like this comes out of her mouth at every family get together. Sometimes I feel quite offended and other times I try to just laugh it off as the ramblings of an old woman. Last night, I had just sat down with my 2 subs on small rolls, and Grandma Jean pipes up... Tammie, you look like you've lost some weight in your face and neck! Wow Grandma, thanks so much for letting me know I had a fat face and neck! Fat Neck??? Can I even have a fat neck? I didn't realize that I should worry about the percentage of fat I have on my neck! Thanks so much for pointing that out to me and from now on I will try to keep my neck in better shape!
The night goes on... "While I was at Nancy's, Tammie, she got a recipe email from you. Nancy guesses you must have a lot of time on your hands." Well Gee, lets think about it... what do I do? What does my day consist of? Oh yeah, I sit around watching soap operas all day long,eating and letting my neck get fat! So I came home, somewhat put off by that comment. and I go through my list of things that I do pretty much on a daily basis. Breakfast, baths, brush hair, brush teeth, nurse Travis, change diaper, give him a bath, empty dishwasher, start filling, clean up breakfast stuff, take my shower, get dressed, make lunch, clean up, drop Mally off at school, put Travis down for a nap, sweep kitchen floor so Travis won't eat the crumbs, find something for Garrett to do, make my own baby food for Travis, get travis up for nap, change diaper, feed Travis, pick Mally up for school, help with homework, make dinner, the list goes on and on and on! I also am the cub scout committe chair so I have to do that stuff during th weeks, I manage my softball team, I head up my neighborhood book club. I don't do anything! Thats how much time I have on my hands!

Let Me OUt!!!

2007-09-16T12:18:00.001-07:00

daddy, what are you doing? can I help?

This was no trick....

2007-09-16T12:10:00.000-07:00

And it certainly wasn't a treat! This is what I found on Tuesday in our garage when I was taking Mally to school! A Tarantula! It was up near the front of the garage and as i was walking to get into the other side of the car I saw it and at frist thought it was one of those real looking toy spiders. I realized that it was not when it started to move towards me! All I can say is HEART ATTACK!!!! Yeah, I freaked out just a tad bit. I tried to run over it with he truck twice but it was too far over to the side. Thanks to Dustin Harris and Dave Mowers for coming to my rescue! I might have had to sit out in the front just watching it all day long with Garrett and Travis in the truck just to make sure it didn't hide itself some where in the garage! Dustin sliced it in 2 for me and then threw in away in our neighbors garbage. Luckily it was the neighbor who already hates us because Neil is a mechanic and the kids make noise. His own fault for leaving the trash out past garbage day!!!

The Three Musketeers

2007-09-16T12:04:00.000-07:00

All the kids were right in front of me on the couch so I thought I would take a picture and this is what I got...

Crazies!

*%$^#!!!!!!!

2007-09-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

I just want to say sorry to anyone who is reading my blog and wondering why everything is so messed up! I am wondering the same thing and the only explanation I
can give is this... We just bought a new computer and it is an apple MAC. Thats awesome you would think, Macs are supposed to be so great! Yes this is what you would think, well, it's not so great and most of the time I feel like flinging this so wonderful computer out my bedroom window where it will meet it's doom on the fence of our forgotten pumpkin patch. I would then laugh gleefully knowing that this contraption which has cause me so much stress and frustration the past couple of weeks, and also, I'm not proud to admit, some rather heated arguments with Neil about it(he think it's great and we just need to figure it out),is now smashed beyond compare where it can no longer cause me the grief, and if you haven't noticed the unexplained anger. The only thing keeping me from doing so is the knowledge of how much the danged thing has cost us and no, Neil will not let me return it and get a regular PC that I will know how to work. So please bear with me as I work through this #$%@ time! Thanks so much, and if anyone out there could help me, I would most graciously accept any help I could get (no, I don't mean psychiatric help)!

Say hello to Homer....

2007-09-16T11:26:00.000-07:00

This is Homer, yes he is a frog. He is our univited, continues to visit, not so welcome frog/toad. The first time we found him on the porch it was really exciting and we called for the kids to come out and see the cool frog. A few large poos later we didn't think he was quite so much fun! And after being forcefully removed and driven at least 2 miles away twice, well, we are just sick of Homer! How does he make it back to our house when all the other frogs are getting squished on the road between here and there? This is the question we would like Homer to answer, but really it would be best if he would just GO AWAY!

Another Update

2007-08-28T18:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, since I only have done an update on Neil, I'll do some on the rest of us.

Mally loves going to school now! Thank goodness! I had Neil start taking her and she got over the hysterics after that. She told me one day, "Mommy my stomach hurts." and I asked her if she wanted to stay home from school and she said, "No, because then I'll be bored." She's taking after her mommy, I was always bored when I was little!

Garrett, well he's just staying at home with me, he gets a little more daddy time now though. He's misses Mally, I really need to come up with some activities to do with him. When it gets cooler we'll be able to play ball in the back yard but for now 112 is too hot! He really likes playing with his playdoh, and his imagination is really blossoming, it's fun to hear him pretending. He's also starting to draw more, he gets frustrated when it doesn't look the way he thinks it should, but he's getting better. Is the frustration a boy thing? I don't remember Mally doing that.

Travis is crawling, or I should say bear walking because he never actually uses his knees! He just goes around with his rump up in the air and gets where he needs to be! He's quick too, he's gonna have great claves! He's also pulling himself up on everything now, and I am his favorite toy. He likes to use me as a jungle gym and then he's happy! He's 7 months now and I can't believe that soon we'll be celebrating his 1st bday! My batteries are dead on my camera, but as soon as we get around to buying some new ones I'll post some pictures.

Me, well my sister Jenny has been in town so we've been hanging out and she's inroduced me to some new foods. We went to Thai one night and it was really good, and then on Saturday Jenny, Mom, and I, along with our significant others went out to try Ethiopian food. It was actually pretty good, and Neil says he'll go back just for the dessert. There wasn't any teriyaki chicken there so he didn't love it, and my dad, well if it ain't steak and potatoes it ain't food! It was fun, I think we all really enjoyed just hanging out, and Tom already eats all this food so it was nothing new to him. Now I just need to do some Indian and Sushi and I'll be feeling quite cultured! I feel like I've been eating out a ton lately though, between some good-bye lunches for a friend (We miss you Juliette!), and being with family, it's amazing I'm maintaining my weight! I've also been playing softball, I thought it was time to get out again so I started a Queen Creek team. It's fun, but man I stink now! It's hard to believe I used to be really good, where did all that talent go? I must have hid it under a bushel, because I've lost it! Well 3 babies might have something to do with it too! At least I'm playing!

I've Been Busy....

2007-08-28T17:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, since I'm starting to get mean comments left on my blog (thanks Jill!) from not updating, I guess I better do it. Life has been crazy lately and it seems like I just don't have many spare minutes to do much else. OKay so here's what's been going on with the Koelle's...

Neil started school last Tuesday. It has been almost 3 years since doing anything schoolie, and even longer doing anything that involves math. His first day, well lets just say it could have gone better for him, but the memory will last a lifetime....

He has absolutely no idea what he is doing in any of his classes. But the best part is what happened later at his 6 o'clock class. He was heading to class and went on in, right on time, well he sat there for a few minutes just listening and thinking this doesn't seem right, another few minutes goes by and he realizes he's in the wrong classroom! So he gets up and leaves to go find the right room. He finds it and asks some guy standing outside if it was his MET 160 class. The guy consults a paper and says there is no listing for that class at all at the ASU East campus. So NEil is freaking out a bit by now. He heads over to the student union and finds someone to look his class up. Yep it's there. The girl behind the desk graciously offers to walk him over. They get there, and it's the classroom he just left. The man was a moron and didn't know! So the girl walks Neil in and says to the teacher... " You have a new student, he was lost." Neil obviously didn't find this very humorous at the moment, but I thought it was hilarious when he told me later! Also in a class they played a getting to know you game, the kind where there's a bunch of boxes filled in with a description and you have to get people to sign their names in the boxes that describe them. One box says, I am married. No one is filling in this particular box, so Neil says everyone bring me their paper and I'll fill in that one. So he's the only married person in there and then someone says, "No way, you're married?" He says yeah, I have kids too! " What, how old are you?" Neil says, lets just say I've already had my 10 year reunion. KID says, " What! You look like you're 22 maybe 23!" So NEil is also the old guy in every class too! In math he had to get a TI graphing calculater, and he couldn't work it, so he turns to the guy next to him and says, "Hey, do you know how to turn this thing on?" Of course the 18 year old boy does and gives him a weird look, probably thinking to himself, "dude, the special ed department is down the hall!" Poor guy, but you have to admitt, it's pretty dang funny!

First Week Recap

2007-08-10T12:05:00.000-07:00

Okay so yesterday I had Neil take Mallory to school and she did so much better. On Wed. she kicked the school psychologist(no they didn't send her to it), who saw her teacher struggling with Mallory and went out to help. She didn't kick her on purpose to be mean, she was just trying to get away and run back to me. For everyone who was able to send your children off with less drama, be so grateful! It tore my heart out to leave her screaming for me like that! I'm tearing up just thinking about it! Yesterday was great, and I had to take her today because Neil was at a meeting. To say the least I was scared, I didn't want any of us going through that again! She did great though, I am thankful to say! She gave me a hug and went and stood right in line. She even volunteered to hold the door for her teacher! So we're all happy, me(huge sigh of relief), her teacher, and now Mally will get to pick a treasure out of the treasure box. Who would've thought it would be this traumatizing? I hope next year goes better with Garrett!

School Daze!

2007-08-07T23:03:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited!

Bye Mom! I Love You!

Garrett with his lunch box. He's ready to go to school too!

Mally eating lunch before she heads off to school!

Mally in our front yard, setting off for school.

We're here! Garrett says he's going to miss Mallory.

Mally's friend, Kiley from soccer, she's in her class too! Yeah!

Mally started kindergarten on Monday! Crazy! I can't believe I have a child going to school already! The first day was okay for her. She actually said it was boring! She stood in line and went right in, happy as can be. Today though... not so much fun! She didn't want to go at all! The teacher had to actually peel a screaming Mallory off of me! I was so sad, I almost cried. After school her teacher said she cried for about 20 minutes and then said, " I love you Mrs. Bingham!" and then told her about all the things she likes. She's ready to go back tomorrow, it was a lot more fun today! She's so sweet sometimes, I hope her teacher loves her too!

Just Us.

2007-08-07T22:58:00.000-07:00

Mallory took this picture!

Garrett's work!

The kids wanted to take some pictures with the camera, so I let them. Nothing too fancy, Mallory was modeling some of her new back to school clothes and Garrett is modeling his cool gun! No he's not pointing it at his head!

Cupcake Culprits!

2007-08-07T22:53:00.001-07:00

Ooh! I just dropped some on the floor!!! Oh well!

This is as good a place to eat as any! Who needs plates?

Just Cause....

2007-08-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

He's Cute!

And diapers are yummy!
6 1/2 months old and lots of fun!

Daddy Attack!

2007-07-24T11:19:00.000-07:00

Children at play make daddy tired for the rest of the day!The kids are having fun, but how is daddy feeling? This was a fun moment, Travis even attacked daddy! I love watching the kids and Neil play together! The kids literally play like thy're WWF fighters! Especially Garrett, he has gotten in quite a few good body slams! Mally not so much but she giggles a lot!

Arrrgh Matey!

2007-07-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

Pandemonium! Pandemonium! Chaos! Pandemonium! Thats what you get when you have 8 4 year old boys running around the house with pool noodles made into swords! And yes, they can still make little boys cry! We had a few casualties, nothing major, but definately a few tears! Those boys wailed on each other! HAppy Birthday to Garrett anyway, I guess it could've been considered fun... Thanks to Grandma for making the coolest birthday cake ever too! Isn't it awesome? My Mom is so talented!

5 Minutes of Alone Time

2007-07-10T23:28:00.001-07:00

So my day has been seriously crazy and here I am with 5 minutes of alone time and what am I doing? Nothing productive obviously, just checking out the blogs! Sometimes I wish I had about 5 more hours added on to my day, only nighttime hours though. the only time of day when I am hopefully able to do what I want to do.

My batteries on my camera died on the 4th, but I feel I need to post something, just for remembering sake I guess. So today was lots of fun. First I woke up at 7AM(very early for me! Yes I know I'm lazy!), to get Mally ready to go to the doctor to get her tongue snipped. It went well, I was prepared with her blankie, doll, and an Amelia Bedelia book to read. The nurse said she has never had an IV go so smoothly with a child and that she was just a perfect patient! Good to hear, I tried to keep it as untraumatizing as possible for Mally, and me! The ride home was a little bit more painful for her than I had hoped. Whats with pain medication anyway! They tell you it should last 2 hours and it actually only is about 1/2 hour! Poor thing was just crying on the way home cause her tongue hurt! I was in the back with her, but thanks to the seat belt law I couldn't really be as comforting as I would have liked!

We get home, and Travis is there with his nose running, drool streaming from his mouth and little chapped cheeks! Oh my, the poor little thing! He is running a slight fever too. Tonight would have been a great night for Neil to have a normal job with regualr hours! I feel like I've been running from one sad little child to the next! Being a Mom is HARD! And poor Garrett is driving me nuts becuase he has so much energy, he keeps popping up in my face making wierd noises! I finally had to send him outside to play with the dog just so he would get some energy out of him! I wish it were cooler I would have made him run laps around the backyard! Then I sliced my finger pretty deep cutting an avacado. There was blood dripping everywhere and it hurt too dang it!

Now it's quiet, Travis is finally asleep and hopefully will be for more than an hour this time. Mally is down and hopefully won't feel any pain tonight. Garrett hopefully won't wake me up at 2AM with a sad whimper and his underwear dripping wet. And last, Neil will hopefully make it home with out falling asleep at the wheel or getting pulled over for speeding or some kind of accident. Sounds like a lot of hopefully's! Oh, did I mention that sick or not I love them all? Tomorrow will be better!(Hopefully!)

4th of July Celebrations!

2007-07-05T20:38:00.001-07:00

Me and Trav at the pool hanging out. This is the only way I actually get in any pictures, if I take it myself!

Mally the fish! And I just have to put the funny pictures in! Good thing they aren't old enough yet to care!

Here's Garrett's funny one!

He's finally swimming! Yeah! He had fun letting daddy do all the work too though!

Another one of my own! I've gotta be remembered too!

We're getting a little worn out by now.

Outside watching the fireworks! It's especially fun with Grandma! We had a lot of fun, but we were also very glad to get home! Especially after being on the freeway with Neil driving! Crazy! It's a great time to let the kids know about our country and the freedom we enjoy. My kids understand a little bit of what their uncle Tyler is doing fighting in Afghanistan, but it's always good to be able to let them know why he's there. WE miss him, but thank heavens for those brave people who are willing to fight for our freedom!

My Smart Baby!

2007-07-02T19:09:00.001-07:00

So here I am going to brag like the proud mommy I am! Travis at 5 1/2 months old is inch worming his way across the floor! What an accomplished little thing! I think he'll be crawling within the next 2 weeks (Neil says one, but I'll give it a little more)! I can't figure out if I should be excited or not! Now I have to make sure everything is picked up off the floor that could possibly get put into his mouth! But it sure is cute watching him be a little inch worm with his bum going up in the air!! It's so cute I just want to pinch it! My baby is growing up too fast!!!

Oh! Isn't he just so cute? If you tell me no, we can't be friends anymore!!!!

A Quick List of Fours

2007-07-02T12:54:00.000-07:00

Four Jobs I've Held

1.Cashier at "The Fruit Stand"
2.Zuka Juice Girl
3.YMCA Day Camp Counselor
4.Respite helper(I can't remember what it was called, but it was the grossest job ever!)

Four Movies I can Watch Over and Over

1.Pride and Prejudice (the second half is my fav!)
2.The Italian Job (It's my cleaning movie)
3.Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Frank is my favorite brother!)
4.While You Were Sleeping

Four Places I have Lived

1.Mesa,AZ
2.Thatcher,AZ
3.Laramie,WY
4.Queen Creek,AZ

Four TV Shows I Watch

1.24
2.House
3.October Road
4.So You Think You Can Dance

Four Places I have Been on Vacation

1.Hawaii
2.California
3.Rocky Point
4.Pinetop,AZ
I sure am a world traveller!!

Four of my Favorite Foods

1.Pizza (CPK honey wheat with tomato and avacado is my fav.)
2.Chips and Homemade Salsa!!!!!
3.Cookies (choc. chip or white choc. macadamia nut)
4.Rubios or BJ's Fish Tacos

Four Websites I Visit

1.Hotmail
2.Blogs
3.Wellsfargo
4.Fox.com(Just keeping up on the SYTYCD forums)

Four Places I'd Rather Be Right Now

1.Up North getting ready for 4th of July Celebrations
2.San Diego
3.Cancun
4.Anyplace we could call a vacation! We haven't been on one in about 5 years!

Four People I'm Tagging! - Now you Guys Copy and tag Some more!
1.Jenny
2.Tiffany
3.Kasey
4.MaryAnne

I Hope They Call Me On A Mission

2007-06-25T22:15:00.001-07:00

We were going through a box of some of Neil's stuff and Garrett found his name badge. He thought it was pretty cool and has been wearing it since (well everytime he finds it after losing it!).

Say CHEESE!

2007-06-25T22:07:00.000-07:00

I love these pictures, Travis looks like I just told him to say "cheese" and gives me a big grin!

Can you see my 2 teeth? I got them 3 days before I was 5 months old! Gee, I'm getting big fast!

I can't look at this picture without smiling! Just thought I would give someone else a chance to smile!

Our Happy Father's Day!

2007-06-18T13:53:00.000-07:00

Well I of course forgot to get out the camera when Neil was opening his presents yesterday, but I'll share with you our day anyway! I know how much Neil loves to get out into the great outdoors so I thought a little something to help him relax would be great. The problem, no money! So the kids and I used our imagination, or the dollar stores. He got a new fishing rod complete with fish! He doesn't even have to lave the house, just throw those fishies in the tub and the powerfull magnet will do the rest! Now he can always be able to brag about his "catch". We love you Daddy! You're a great Sport!!!! I think he liked the wrapping paper the best, newspaper with the kids paint splattered hand prints on it! We do our best! It was fun for the kids too!

Mommy Mally

2007-06-18T13:42:00.000-07:00

I have such a great helper in Mallory! This is what's great about girls! I came in to find her helping change Travis's diaper! With a little practice she will do great, and I won't have to change so many diapers! Yipee!

Knights and Damzels in Distress

2007-06-18T13:31:00.000-07:00

The Gallant Knight Rustin and the Evil Sir Garrett are fighting to save the fair Princess Mallory!

It is an epic battle to the end! The way is frought with peril, a.k.a. the mess in Mally's room!
Alas, the brave and gallant Knight Rustin Prevails! The evil Sir Garrett is no more!

My Nerd Score

2007-06-09T10:54:00.001-07:00

Hmm... I don't think I despise nerds, cause I have a lot of fun doing some geeky things. I'm just not a computer nerd. There are differences! And heaven knows I was never one of the "popular group"! Good to know the computer thinks I'm pretty cool though!

One Season Down!

2007-06-07T23:02:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun in soccer this season! Well, Mally did, Garrett started liking it after I bribed him with snow cones for playing hard in his games! He spent most of his time walking off the field! The bribe worked though and we all finished strong and excited for next season. Except Travis, I think he got a little bored!

Just watching TV

2007-06-07T22:48:00.000-07:00

I came in the other day to find this cute little sight on my floor! Mallory takes such good care of her little brother! He had fun grabbing her ear!

Random Things I LOVE About My Life!

2007-05-31T23:43:00.000-07:00

In no specific order:
*I have live in censors. No matter why I say Stupid or shut up my kids will remind me... "Mommy, we don't say that!" They remind everyone else too!
*Even if Neil is tired I can convince him to massage my back. He says only 10 minutes, but I know as long as I'm sitting in front of him he'll keep going!
*When my hair looks the nappiest Garrett compliments me and says " Mommy, I like your hair like that!"
*I've gone from having a ton of friends to only having a few, but those few are the truest of true!
*Neil will always vacuum for me. He also cleans better! He's my BEST helper! I'm such a lucky girl!
* The nights I'm really into a good book and not trying to find out all about Neil's day, are the nights he wants to talk and talk and talk! It always makes me laugh!
*I get a "fishy" kiss from Garrett every night, and Mally wants me to "talk" to her before she goes to sleep!
*My kids laughter! & they always think I'm funny, even when no one else would!
*My self proclaimed "big helpers", when all they do is follow me around while I pick up telling me they are such good helpers!
*Travis's smiles. I can just see that he loves me! It makes me feel so special!
*Neil doesn't watch sports! He likes to be productive. I love that I don't have to fight the TV for his attention, and he lets me hang out and talk to him while he's fixing cars.

Sometimes life is tough and I feel like running from my house screaming like a mad woman, but I know that the other times when I'm sane, my life is pretty dang good and other than wanting a million dollars and a dancer's body (I was watching "so you think you can dance"
tonight), I'm more blessed than I could ask for or probably even deserve!

When I was a Little Boy

2007-05-31T12:37:00.000-07:00

I'm making a family tree wall with early pictures of our parents and grandparents. I asked Neil's dad for some pictures and he gave me an old photo album of the family. This picture I found of Neil is great! I couldn't stop laughing when I saw it! I love the old pictures of family! I won't embarrass myself by putting any weird pictures of me but here's Neil's! I guess it's his own fault for allowing me access to a computer and my blog!!! Hehehe!

Where does it come from?

2007-05-31T12:20:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we were heading to my parents house for a Memorial Day barbeque when Mallory says, "Mommy how do babies get teeth?" I'm about to answer her when she asks, "Do they get them from other little boys and girls who already lost their teeth?" Who would ever have even thought of that question? I don't think I would have! She always says and asks the funniest things! Good to know she's thinking deeply about things! I'm worried about what will come up in the future! She's already asked how a baby comes out of my tummy. That was an interesting conversation!

"Mommy, I'm Finished!"

2007-05-24T18:46:00.000-07:00

So here's to all you Mommy's out there with picky eaters! Tonight I have a funny story about dinner. I made, in my opinion, a pretty yummy meal tonight. I just found it, Broiled Tilapia parmesan, sauted broccoli, and potato slices. Well Garrett was excited because we were having broccoli, I know he's weird. Mally is always my hard one, she doesn't eat anything, she just sits there with a very pathetic expression on her face and whimpers! So I'm a frazzled Mom and will do anything to get my kids to eat dinner and that means I bribe! So I told them, "If you eat all of your dinner I will let you have ice cream." Garrett got really excited and started eating his broccoli. After the broccoli it starts getting a little bit tougher. I finish and put away the left overs for Neil to eat later tonight, and remind Mally for the 20th time to start eating. Garrett is still working on his fish when I leave the room to write down this recipe so I don't forget about it. About 10 minutes later he comes running in, " Mommy! I'm finished!" How many times have I heard those words only to find that they are not true? Way too many to count! So knowing my kids, and not being a dummy, I go out to check his plate knowing that he won't really be done. The first thing I do is look in the garbage can as I pass by. There sitting near the top are some potato slices. I look at Garrett and he's already wearing a guilty expression! I ask, "Are these yours?" He thinks about lying, I know because he starts to say no but sees my face and knows I know! So he says, " yees". Mommy knows when you lie!!!!!! I tell him, " you're not finished so you don't get ice cream" thinking well thats it, no ice cream for these kiddos! Well I thought wrong! Garrett fished those potato slices out of the garbage and ate them right up and came running back to tell me! Well, I believe he has earned his bowl of ice cream tonight!!! I hope he doesn't get sick because those slices were right on top of the packages for the fish! Oh well, it's good for the system right? Guess I was a dummy this time, I underestimated his desire for the ice cream! Oh the wonderful surprises a mother gets! At least this one made me smile!!! Mallory still has a full plate of food, it has now been an hour since we sat down for dinner! She's not getting ice cream!!!

Yummy!

2007-05-14T16:16:00.000-07:00

Got Drool?

Muscle, muscle man!!

2007-05-14T16:11:00.000-07:00

What a strong boy! Garrett is built just like daddy! Long and lean!!!! It's Koelle Tough!

Cleaning??

2007-05-14T16:09:00.000-07:00

Here's what happens when Mallory is supposed to clean her room! Looks like a lot gets done!

Cute Travis!

2007-05-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

I just can't get over how happy this little boy is! He's always ready to smile at anyone, I love it! It really is hard to get a good picture of him smiling without his fist or fingers in his mouth but when I catch it I'm so excited!

It's Time to Get Fit!!

2007-05-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

So I've decided it's time to take my fitness to the next step! Okay so really it's the first real step! I've signed up for Suzy's Boot camp! After trying to do a no junk food diet for a month and lasting for only a week, I knew I needed professional help! So I started this morning, early for me I truly love my sleep, but I pulled my self out of bed at the wee morning hour of 7 AM! This means serious dedication for me! I got there, luckily it's a a neighbor's house so it's just around the corner, and proceeded to have my body fat percentage and measurements recorded! Not something for the faint of heart! I tried to ignore the not so comfortable pinching of the body fat doohickey. I just kept my eyes closed and pretended not to be embarrassed, while really being in agony that someone else is seeing this! So class started and I did pretty well for a woman who hasn't worked out in about hmmm... 14 months. I kept up pretty good at all the stations until, I looked over at the other woman who also started for the first time today and saw her curled up on her knees feeling sick. Now I don't know what happened but I must have had the see it, feel it syndrome come over me because I suddenly felt nauseous, and had to sit down! So the session ends and I'm trying to be okay, but knowing that I really do need to throw up in a contained area before I spew somewhere public and uncleanable! Yes, I did throw up! I couldn't believe it, I've never thrown up from exercising before but once. Oh well, hopefully next time will be better! I'm already feeling the aching soreness creep into my under exercised body reminding me how out of shape I really am! Please, please let it work!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't let me suffer for nothing!!

The Father and Son's Outing!

2007-05-14T15:06:00.000-07:00

Well, Garrett and Neil had a lot of fun camping this past weekend. Unfortunately Neil couldn't get the timer on the camera to work so he isn't in any of the pictures! Garrett loved it though, throwing rocks, and playing ball with dad, looking for the squirrel that kept running around the tree, and balancing across fallen logs. Whats not to love for a little boy? He came back dirty, and tired, but happy! We can't wait for the ward camp out so we can all go too!

I guess I'll play along!

2007-05-10T17:01:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by Kasey.
Here are the rules: 1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose four people (revised from 8 to leave some for others!) to tag and list their names.4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

OKay, I don't usually play along with these, but I guess I will this once!
1. I secretly wish I could be on American Idol, even though I know I can't sing, it's fun to pretend I could be famous!
2. I can stay up all night reading a good book, and then wonder the next day why I'm so dang tired!
3. I can't have brownies in the house or I will eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
4. This tag game is really hard! I can't think of that many things! This is why I never do this on my email!
5. Since having kids I believe I am losing my mind. Just today I couldn't get my key out of the ignition and then it wouldn't start, only to have Neil check it and tell me I forgot to actually put the car in park!
6. My hair has gone semi curly since having kids and I hate it!
7. I love high school girl movies. You know, the ones you would never actually rent at blockbuster, but the ones you put at the top of your list from netflix!
8. My clothes collect in piles next to my bed and dresser. They may have been folded, but just never actually make it in drawers! Drives Neil crazy, but he loves me anyway!

OKay here's my tag list, Sorry girls!
1. Jenny
2. Carol
3. Jill
4. Heidi

The Babies!

2007-05-05T15:53:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share the new babies of the family. Kori, Jenny, and I all had babies right in a row! Unfortuantely Jenny is in New Jersey so we haven't actually seen Haylie yet, but she'll be coming down in July. We're all really excited! So It's Travis (born January), Gwen (born February), and Haylie (born March). We finally have some cousins the same age! Too bad Travis is outnumbered!

2007-05-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

Garrett loves his teenage mutant ninja turtles! He takes them everywhere! He's got Donotello along for a ride this time!

Well we're attempting to block the goal! He has the ready postion down, but when it comes to actual blocking...
Travis is almost 4 months old now. He loves chewing that fist. Sometimes he almost gets both fists in!
Here they are all together. It's hard getting them this way looking halfway decent! Travis' eyes are a bit creepy, so much for my camera's red eye reduction!
I have better action photos of Mally playing, but this will do for now. She is really doing pretty good. She gets right in there and takes the ball! I'm actually surprised, I wasn't expecting her to be so good!

2007-05-01T17:09:00.000-07:00

One of the few pictures with me!

2007-05-01T16:09:00.000-07:00

Here's my newset addition! This is Travis and he is now 3 1/2 months old! Time flies by thats for sure! He brightens my days! His little smile is so cute. I can't ever get it on camera though because he just stares intently at the big thing blocking my face!

2007-05-01T16:06:00.000-07:00

Here is Garrett! He is 3 1/2 years old, almost 4. This was taken on Easter Sunday. He picked a bunch of flowers and gave them to all the moms that were close by. HE can be such a sweetheart. Last week when I was getting ready for church he came in and said, "Mommy, you look beautiful!" What a great compliment! Today though he was mad at me and when he was walking down the hall he turned around and gave me a dirty look and called me a toothpick! I guess it was supposed to be mean, but I think I can handle that name!

2007-05-01T15:50:00.000-07:00

This is Mallory. She's 5 years old going on 20! She has a very active imagination and instigates all the pretending that go on in our house! Mallory is usually the one who says the best things! The other day she said, "Mommy do you know why I pick my nose?" I said, no I don't. She said, " Thats because Jesus made me that way." I can't really fight with that one!